Pappageorge sets career-high in points to lead Long Beach State

FRESNO — For the second game in a row, senior guard Peter Pappageorge set a career high in points, this time scoring 23 to lead Long Beach State past Fresno State, 69-61, on Sunday.

Pappageorge hit four 3-pointers and was 7 for 7 from the free-throw line on Sunday.

The Bulldogs (3-2) opened the game with a hot start, taking a 14-6 lead on a fast-break dunk by Tyler Johnson. Long Beach State (2-3) closed up the gap once, but Fresno State recovered, opening up a 29-20 lead with 7:15 in the first half. Pappageorge brought the 49ers back, hitting two straight, helping cut that lead to two and putting the 49ers on top 30-29 with 5:23 to play.

Fresno State took back the lead on a three from Kevin Olekaibe at 33-30, but Long Beach State finished the half on a 7-1 run, sparked by Pappageorge knocking down a pair of free throws following a technical foul called on the Bulldog bench. The 49ers went into the half leading 37-34 behind 17 first-half points from Pappageorge.

The 49ers scored four straight points to start out the second half to open up a seven-point lead, and that held until an LBSU cold stretch allowed the Bulldogs to chip away at the lead. Eventually Fresno State pulled to within one point at 49-48 with nine minutes remaining, but sophomore Mike Caffey drained back-to-back jumpers to help keep the 49er lead, which Long Beach State would never surrender in the second half.

Fresno State cut the Long Beach State lead to five with just over a minute remaining, but James Ennis tipped in a free-throw miss by Kris Gulley, and Pappageorge made four free throws down the stretch, ending the day a perfect 7-for-7 from the stripe to aid in his career high.

Caffey finished with 13 points and six assists for Long Beach State, while Ennis was a rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards and 11 points. Allen Huddleston led Fresno State with 13 points.

The 49ers remain on the road for one more game, playing at Loyola Marymount on November 29 starting at 7 p.m. Long Beach State will then host Fresno State in a rematch in the Walter Pyramid at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 3 in the team's return to Long Beach.